Wildfires spread in western states

Friday

Jul 1, 2005 at 12:01 AM

BETH DEFALCOASSOCIATED PRESS

PHOENIX - Better weather helped firefighters battling a central Arizona wildfire, but the blaze continued to grow, stirring concern in at least three communities.
The 9-day-old fire, which had charred 174,250 acres by Thursday, was completely uncontained in the northern section and 40 percent contained in the southern zone, closer to Phoenix.
It may have dealt a fatal blow to one of the world's largest saguaro cactuses, officials said.
Firefighters in some areas got a boost from lower winds and higher humidity levels Wednesday and Thursday.
Wind put flames 20 miles southwest of the mountain communities of Pine and Strawberry, and the fire was about 4¶ miles east of Black Canyon City, fire crew spokeswoman Rebeca Franco said. No evacuations were planned yet, Franco said.
"Fire always appears to be closer than it actually is. It's like an optical illusion sometimes. When there's a lot of smoke, it seems even closer," she said
On the eastern flank, firefighters worked to stop flames from jumping the Verde River, a move that could let the flames push into a canyon and race into Pine and Strawberry. The towns together have a population of about 6,000 in the summer.
The ponderosa pine forest surrounding the towns has already been hard hit by tree-killing beetles in recent years, said Vinnie Picard, another fire spokesman.
More than 200 residents packed a Black Canyon City park Wednesday night to hear about the firefighting efforts, following similar meetings in Pine and Strawberry.
"We do have to be prepared, but there's no reason for panic," said Strawberry inn owner Cheryl Holland.
The blaze began June 21 as two lightning-started fires and destroyed 11 homes near Cave Creek, just north of Phoenix.
The 46-foot saguaro cactus dubbed the Grand One, recognized as one of the world's largest, was scorched, and Tonto National Forest spokeswoman Emily Garber said she feared for its survival. "As much as I'd like to be optimistic, I'm not," Garber said.
The picturesque cactus, which could be two centuries old, is recognized in the National Register of Big Trees for its height, mass of limbs and a base circumference of nearly 8 feet.
The National Interagency Fire Center said Wednesday that 22 active large fires had burned across more than 905,000 acres in Alaska, Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico and Utah.
In Nevada, good weather and an increased firefighting force helped slow huge wildfires burning in a vast area of southern Nevada. The total fire zone covers approximately 500,000 acres.
In Utah, relieved residents of the southwest community of New Harmony - nearly consumed by a 12,000-acre wildfire - have returned to their homes.
Officials Wednesday said they were most concerned about a 4,300-acre wildfire burning in the Desert Red Cliff Preserve about 10 miles north of St. George. The fire is burning in the prime location for habitat and native grasses for the endangered desert tortoise.
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On the Net:
National Interagency Fire Center: http://www.nifc.gov/